Entries tagged with: NeilDiamond

"I grew up in this fair borough," the star said, before playing the song. "It was a great place to grow up."

As home movies of his youth unspooled on screens behind, Diamond navigated what rates as one of the few, relatively subtle numbers of his career.

"Brooklyn Roads" relies on small lyrical details, a tender melody and a hushed vocal - qualities that stand in stark contrast to much of the rest of Thursday's set. Backed by a ten piece band, and two added singers, Diamond barreled through pieces that nearly always go for grandeur. They're full of horns (four here) and strings (provided by synthesized programming live) mirroring vocals that veer between the righteous and the sentimental. The result often ended up both gripping and cheesy at once. As with ABBA, it's impossible to separate what's overblown, and what's brilliant, about Diamond's songs. They're pretentious and irresistible in nearly equal measure. [Daily News]

Brooklyn's Neil Diamond played his 2nd Brooklyn show ever, and 2nd in less than a year at Barclays Center on March 26. It was announced along with the rest of his current tour dates on the night of his first Brooklyn show which was a much shorter show at one of his old schools in September.

Since then the tour hit Chicago's United Center on 4/14 which is where the pictures in this post come from. The tour continues through 5/31 in Denver. He then heads overseas in June.

More pictures from Chicago, along with the setlist from Brooklyn, below...

When Neil Diamond played Brooklyn's Ersasmus Hall High School earlier this year, his first-ever concert in the NYC borough where he was born, there was a big video crew there filming the whole thing. They released some footage in an promo video about his new album, but here's the first full song to come from the show -- "I'm a Believer," which he wrote and was made famous by The Monkees. Watch below.

Neil's back in Brooklyn next year to play Barclays Center on March 26. Tickets are still available.

We mentioned that Neil Diamond's Erasmus Hall High School show on Monday (9/29) was filmed and some of that footage has now appeared in a short, three-minute EPK for the new album and 2015 tour. You can see him perform new single "Something Blue," plus they talk to a few of the Neil superfans in line and a quick glimpse of superfan Geraldo Rivera. Hopefully more of that footage will surface, but in the meantime watch this below.

Neil will be back where he belongs -- an arena -- when his tour hits Brooklyn's Barclays Center on March 26. Tickets for that show go on sale October 13 at 10 AM with a few presales starting October 6.

Dennis and Jackie Beck, 66 and 64, traveled from western Pennsylvania. Ms. Beck said she had seen Mr. Diamond 10 times.

"It's not that many," she said. She sported a "Diamond Girl" shirt and said she was convinced that this concert at his old stamping grounds would be special.

"He's an emotional guy," she said.

A largely middle-age crowd of about 800 filled the wooden seats in the hot auditorium. Pictures of Barbra Streisand (class of '59) lined the walls.
[NY Times]

There was no AC in the chapel at Flatbush, Brooklyn's Erasmus Hall High School and it was sticky hot as the crowd loudly sang along to Neil Diamond hit after Neil Diamond hit...from the Best Of CD they were playing before the man himself took the stage. Folks had been lined up outside since 3 PM for this somewhat secret free show and there were definitely a lot of neighborhood folks -- including many who had attended Erasmus back in the day -- and die-hard fans. When Neil did come out about 6:30 PM, after an introduction by radio DJ Scott Shannon, it was the expected thunderous applause (crowd member Geraldo Rivera also received a bit of that applause as he was taking his front row seat, just for being there and for being Geraldo). Instead of immediately launching into a song, Neil shared a few anecdotes about Erasmus which he attended from 1954-56, and this show was supposedly his first Brooklyn concert ever. He told stories about getting detention, his chorus teacher, and working as a shoeshine boy in a nearby subway station. "It's a good gig," said Diamond. "It doesn't go anywhere, but it's a good gig for a kid."

After that Neil knocked out a short set of hits, starting with "I'm a Believer," "Solitary Man," "Kentucky Woman," and, of course "Brooklyn Roads." Then a couple late '70s nuggets -- "Love on the Rocks" and "Forever in Blue Jeans" -- before the requisite new song, "Nothing But a Heartache" (from Melody Road, out next month). He finished up his set with another new one, "Something Blue," and then finished with showstopper "Sweet Caroline" which had the whole crowd singing. Well, almost. "I saw two people not singing," Neil told the crowd before proceeding to run through its chorus two more times. At 73, Diamond's voice is in great shape and he's ever the showman, with a band of pros who know how to punctuate the big moments -- nearly all the songs got the Vegas Ending. As it should be. Too short, but this free show in a very special location was a lot of fun. If you missed it, you can maybe catch the video if and when it's released. There was a very professional video crew capturing every moment. Channel 7 news, who said everyone who waited in line got in, also said the show was being filmed for a documentary. Everyone got a poster as they walked out.

Neil will be back in Brooklyn when his 2015 tour stops at Barclays Center on March 26. Tickets for what should be his 2nd-ever Brooklyn show, go on sale October 13 at 10 AM.

All dates, plus more pictures from the intimate Brooklyn show, below...

As you may have heard, Neil Diamond is playing his first-ever show in his hometown of Brooklyn on Monday (9/29). They're announcing the location Monday morning, but posters are up in Williamsburg announcing that the concert will be at the site of his alma mater, Erasmus Hall High School in Flatbush. Neil, who also went to Lincoln High School in Coney Island, attended Erasmus from 1954-56. Other attendees of that school include his "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" partner, Barbra Streisand, as well as Marky Ramone, music mogul Clive Davis and others. It closed as a public high school in 1994 and was turned into Erasmus Hall Educational Campus, housing five separate schools.

Wherever the show turns out to be, doors to the show open at 5 PM. Neil plays at 6. Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis. You can also try and win them through a contest on Neil's Facebook. Neil's new album, Melody Road, is out October 21.

Way before TV On the Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vivian Girls, Grizzly Bear, DIIV, Parquet Courts, A Place to Bury Strangers and the So So Glos... before the Lordz of Brooklyn, Type O Negative, Life of Agony and Biohazard from Brooklyn, NY... before Jay-Z, B.I.G, Big Daddy Kane, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Lil Kim, GZA, RZA, and The Beastie Boys... before Pat Benatar even, there was a musician who was proud to be from Brooklyn and who made Brooklyn proud... no, not Barbara Streisand. I'm talking about NEIL DIAMOND!

Is it possible though that Neil Diamond has NEVER actually played in Brooklyn? That's what they're saying. They're also saying that's going to change after Neil announces the location of a secret show happening this Monday in Brooklyn. The location will be announced Monday (9/29) at 8am by Neil. Doors to the show open at 5pm. Neil plays at 6. Tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis. Stay tuned.

The Kennedy Center Honors are lifetime achievement awards for performing artists and an annual love-in for the entertainment world. It's also a moment for the staid Washington D.C. social scene to bask in the glow of non-political superstars. This year's honorees, celebrated Sunday night (12/4), were Barbara Cook, Neil Diamond, Yo-Yo Ma, Sonny Rollins and Meryl Streep.

The Honors, in their 34th year, were hosted by JFK daughter Caroline Kennedy (after many years with Walter Cronkite at the helm). It's one of those occasions that forces odd pairings, where you can find the House Minority Leader sitting next to the CEO of CBS, Senators sitting next to stars from Sex and the City -- and presidential hopefuls (like Newt Gingrich) clapping alongside the man currently in office. "Everybody sings Neil Diamond songs," Obama said at a reception earlier that day, "no matter how many drinks they've had." [TIME]

True story. I was thumbing through a distro at a recent crust/hardcore show and somewhere in between a copy of an Assault 7" on HG Fact and a Grudges tape, I encountered a copy of The Jazz Singer. I almost bought it out of principle.

I'm guessing that appearance of Neil Diamond's soundtrack is an anomoly, but maybe he'll encounter a whole new breed of fan when he hits the road for a string of dates this summer. The dates include a stop at Jones Beach Theater on 6/8. Tickets are currently on Livenation presale, and go on regular sale at noon on 12/5. The full list of show is below, none of which probably feature an opening set from Amebix.

Neil recently made two special holiday appearances in NYC. He was in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and at the lighting of the Rockefeller Center christmas tree. Videos of both are also below...

"the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced the Alice Cooper Band, Neil Diamond, Dr. John, Darlene Love and Tom Waits as its 2011 performer inductees. Also being inducted this year as individual recipients of the Ahmet Ertegun Award are Jac Holzman and Art Rupe. The Award for Musical Excellence (previously the Sidemen category) will be presented to Leon Russell. The 26th annual ceremony will take place on Monday, March 14, 2011, at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and be broadcast on Fuse, Madison Square Garden's national music television network."

There was a screening of "Funny People" in NYC yesterday. "Funny People is the new Judd Apatow movie that stars Seth Rogan, Adam Sandler, Leslie Mann, and Raaaaaaaandy. As you can see in the track listing above, the soundtrack features a live Wilco song that was recorded when they were playing shows last year with Andrew Bird who joined them on stage. Some video examples of that below.

Wilco came to NYC this week to play a big show at Keyspan Park in Coney Island (7/13). That show also featured many special guests including Leslie Feist who most likely flew in mainly to join Wilco for their appearance on the David Letterman show which aired last night (7/14), but was recorded yesterday afternoon which gave Jeff Tweedy plenty of time to make it over to the movie screening (which he was spotted at). Letterman video below...

Dr. Oliva has played an extraordinary role in the history and academic reputation of NYU beginning his career at the University as a professor of Russian history. He was president of NYU from 1991-2002 after serving for more that three decades in both academic and adminitrative positions. Today, he remains deeply committed to the University as a staunch supporter of the sports teams, an active participant in numerous student theatrical productions, co-founder of the George H. Heyman, Jr. Center for Philanthropy and Fundraising and he also serves as executive producer and chair of the Skirball Center.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the L. Jay Oliva Endowment which has been created in honor of Dr. Oliva to support future Skirball Center programming. [Tickets are on sale]

If anyone had any doubt that touring is where the money is in the music business, a quick look at the top Moneymakers for 2008 should hammer the point home.

Regardless of genre, retail sales or radio play, each of the 20 acts on Billboard's Moneymakers list toured in 2008. (Taylor Swift mostly opened for Brad Paisley but doesn't get credit for that revenue). For almost all of them, touring generated the most revenue. And in a year when recorded-music sales declined yet again, many earned more at the box office than ever before. [Billboard]

I hope Kanye West can handle being below The Jonas Brothers (and Lil Wayne). The whole list below...

"According to numbers released by concert trade magazine Pollstar, the Material Girl was the year's top concert draw in North America with ticket sales in excess of $105 million. After launching last summer in Wales, her Sticky & Sweet tour hit North America in early October for nearly eight weeks of concert dates. Worldwide the tour actually grossed more than $280 million, making Sticky & Sweet the highest-grossing tour ever by a solo artist." [EOnline]

After a subpar performance Monday night in Value City Arena, Neil Diamond yesterday apologized and offered refunds to the 11,000 people who attended the concert.

"Dear Fans in Columbus," the singer said in a statement, "I haven't let you down before, and I won't let you down now. Until you hear from me again remember, You are the sun. I am the moon. You are the words. I am the tune. Forgive me. I love you. Neil."

Diamond, whose voice was extremely hoarse throughout the show, said yesterday that he is suffering from acute laryngitis. Ordered by doctors to rest his voice, he canceled his two other shows this week -- today in Green Bay, Wis., and Friday in St. Louis.

"--NOTE--> After midnight we lock the Barn's front door & stop letting in new folks. You can totally leave, but just no ins and outs after midnight. Doin' this to keep the sidewalks clear & the cops at bay." [Todd P]

"The power of the Jewish Elvis can not be denied. One of the best entertainers in rock 'n' roll, a living legend and a must-see for anyone who's an avid convert goers began night one of his four stand tonight at Madison Square Garden. It's everything I ever wanted to see from the man -- heartfelt classics, crowd pleasures and soul stirring epics in a two-hour show. He just didn't wear those shimmery, reflective shirts.

Before you ask, show started at 8:20pm. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the early bird special." [Music Snobbery]

Neil plays three more shows in the same venue this week (tickets). More pictures and the setlist from last night's show (August 12, 2008) below...

I'm super excited to announce that ROOFTOP FILM's Summer Series will screen SONG SUNG BLUE on the lawn at South Point Park on Roosevelt Island SATURDAY, AUGUST 16th @ 9PM. THUNDER and her children, Rachel and Dana are all scheduled to be in attendance. The screening will be FREE and details can be found [here]...

...SONG SUNG BLUE has screened only once in NYC back in February to a packed house at IFC Center. This NYC screening comes at a wonderful time given the many emails of inquiry I continue to get from New Yorkers that could not make the previous screening or have since learned of the film.

As an extra bonus ROOFTOP FILM's will have a NEIL DIAMOND karaoke hour before the film that should be "off the hook". All are encouraged to [sign up] for an opportunity to belt out their favorite ND tune and make a beautiful noise as the sun sets over the big apple. [filmmaker Greg Kohs]

August 16th is also the last of four shows that the real Neil Diamond is playing at MSG in NYC this week. The first is tonight (Aug 12). Check Ticketmaster for tickets to those.

There may or may not still be tickets left to one of the four shows Neil Diamond is playing in NYC in August. Check out the videos from his set at Glastonbury this weekend (Crystal Castles and Neil Diamond at the same festival. I love that.)......

MySpace, the world's most popular social network in partnership with Samsung, today announced its 150th installment of the hugely popular Secret Show franchise (http://myspace.com/secretshows), an original concert series that fuses the online and offline music experience and further connects fans and bands through intimate, "friends only" performances. This landmark 150th Secret Show will feature Grammy award winning artist and fan favorite, Gnarls Barkley (http://myspace.com/gnarlsbarkley), who launched their US career two years ago with a MySpace Secret Show, their first live concert in the states.

The 150th Secret Show will take place in New York City on June 8th. The exact location is still a "secret" but fans can visit http://myspace.com/secretshows to learn more about the upcoming show.

"Music has always been a cornerstone of the MySpace culture and our users are incredibly passionate and involved in the music community online," said Josh Brooks, Vice President of Marketing and Content for MySpace. "With Secret Shows they can truly experience the music they love so much, live, in person and for free just for being a MySpace member. We've had 150 amazing shows and I can't think of a better way to celebrate than Gnarls Barkley in New York City."

More Gnarls Barkley tour dates HERE. Pictures from Gnarls Barkley's last NYC show HERE. Pictures from MySpace's last secret show HERE.

Tonight's show rocked!! The setlist was comprised of seven songs (see below) and both Neil and the crowd were rocking!

Neil was introduced by Paul Colby, a former owner of the Bitter End. For the show Neil wore black slacks, shirt and a brown leather jacket. Neil played guitar the entire show. Tonight's band was composed of Alan, Doug, Reine, Smokey Hormel and Matt Sweeny.

This was truly a memorable day for our man on the streets and for the other fans who were able to attend this once in a lifetime show. I am sure that all those who attended are truly grateful to Neil for giving them this special evening. All patrons received a numbered Home By Dark/Bitter End poster at the end of the show. Our man on the street received number 296 out of 300.

Neil Diamond is currently in the West Village in NYC at the Bitter End. He's about to play his MySpace Secret Show at one of the clubs where he got his start. Makeliketova took the above picture on her iPhone (May 7, 2008). Video of Neil performing "Solitary Man" at the same club 41 years ago, below...